School's Out!

We went to lunch today at our local deli and walked into a scene of controlled chaos. The place was jumping with middle-schoolers. Unbeknownst to us,our schools had a half-day session and half the local school kids were swarming around the counter ordering everything from hot dogs, chicken fingers, hamburgers, sodas, fries and soft drinks.

The sound level was rock-concert high without the music as the kids draped themselves over the tables, jammed into booths and shared chairs as only young girls could. We loved the energy exploding around us.

The line at the counter was 20-deep at times. And behind the counter, of course, were the proprietors, calmly taking orders, taking cash and making change while the staff delivered food to booths and tables, including ours, by the way.

My wife, having taught in our school system for more than 25 years, loved every minute of our lunch break, particularly since she no longer has to deal with this horde in the classroom.

The kids were wonderfully well-behaved. We loved every one of them, the short, the tall, the skinny and not so skinny, but mostly the enthusiasm they had for one another. It was so “our town.”

Good Heavens, we realized, these are our future leaders.

Bless them.